Police arrest three in Stripes robbery

Clerk says group claimed to have gun; none found

Police arrested two men and a woman Thursday afternoon after a group of people stole beer, cigarettes and snacks from a convenience store while claiming to have a gun, authorities said.

Several people walked into a Stripes store in the 4500 block of Ayers Street at about 2:40 p.m., grabbed cases of beer and other items and walked toward the door, police Lt. G. Ermis said. When the clerk tried to stop them, one of the people said they had a gun, Ermis said.

About an hour later, an officer in the 3000 block of Washington Street spotted a Ford F-150 that the clerk described leaving the scene. Authorities arrested two men and a woman, all in their 30s, after a short chase, Ermis said. A third man seen leaving the convenience store in the truck likely had been dropped off before the truck was stopped, Ermis said.

Officers found an 18-pack of beer, scattered snack bags and cigarettes in the truck, police said. The men and woman arrested, whose names and exact ages were not available Thursday night, were arrested on suspicion of aggravated robbery and evading arrest.

Officers did not find a gun in possession of any of the people arrested, Ermis said.